Best Gel Memory Foam Mattress

Why gel memory foam?

The advent of memory foam changed the mattress world forever. While many love the feeling, a large number of mattress buyers couldn’t take the heat. Memory foam uses the heat of your body to give you the sensation you feel as you sleep, but it can sometimes also trap heat – making it sweaty and uncomfortable.

Traditional memory foam has changed over the past few decades, though, and gel memory foam is one of the more prominent foam types. Countless foam, mixed foam, and hybrid mattresses now endeavor to incorporate gel memory foam in one way or another in an effort to achieve the memory foam feeling people love without the heat.

Mattress shopping guide: Gel memory foam mattresses

If you’re shopping for a mattress and you find the idea of gel memory foam attractive, what else should you consider before you buy? Gel memory foam is so often infused into mattresses these days that you will need to look to a range of other features to hone down your search for your perfect bed. Here are some extra things to consider as you buy your next gel memory foam mattress.

Sleeping preferences: What will work for you?

The starting point of any mattress buying process is to match the mattress to your sleeping style. We’ve mentioned these universal rules before on the site, but this is something to keep in mind before you decide on your bed. Firmness will depend on your size. The bigger you are, the softer mattresses will feel. The lighter you are, the firmer mattresses will feel.

Heavier people, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers should look to firmer mattresses to keep their spines in alignment and to achieve the right amount of support while they sleep. Side sleepers on the other hand tend towards softer beds which offer pressure support for shoulders and hips.

How cool are you? Gel memory foam for hot sleepers

If you sleep hot, the more cooling features the better. Gel memory foam has the effect of conducting heat away from your person during the night. Combine this with features like cooling covers, open cell foam construction, and other inclusions like graphite and copper to keep you comfortable and cool during the night. It is good to keep in mind that most mattress companies will highlight cooling as one of their core features. If you are a true hot sleeper, it will be important to do your homework in this regard – and you may find you have to invest in technologies to assist with a cool night’s sleep.

Gel memory foam mattresses for side sleepers

One of the most appealing features of memory foam is its pressure relieving abilities. Memory foam is highly effective at contouring the body, softly supporting hips and shoulders to prevent pain and keep you comfortable. Most of us are side sleepers, so it’s not surprising that such a large number of people are drawn to foam for this benefit. Many gel memory foams used in mattresses today are no different. They are also made with different feels to cater for those who aren’t particularly fond of the sinking feeling of traditional foam.

Gel memory foam mattresses with special features

Ask yourself what you want from your mattress. Most mattress shoppers have an idea of what they like and stick with the tried and tested. When the time comes to get a new bed, others might find themselves excited at the thought of something different from the norm. Some mattress companies have invested real thought into providing something a little different to their customers. Flippable mattresses, zoned construction, and a new wave of eco-friendly materials are a few examples of some of the different ways brands are disrupting the mattress industry of old to give you something new and different.

Does size matter? Choosing the best gel memory foam bed

The size of mattress you need is very much a question of preference – but it is also a question of budget. As a general rule, the heavier you are, the more you could benefit from a thicker mattress profile to give you the benefit of real support.

If you are a couple sharing one of the smaller models on the market, things like edge support are going to take on real importance. Reinforced edges mean you will have more usable space in your bed – right up to the perimeter – without that dipping feeling as you come close to the sides.

Durability of gel memory foam mattresses

Gel memory foam has a reputation for offering extra durability over traditional memory foams. By its nature, foam is prone to sagging and indentation – and this is something consumers can reasonably expect. These days, however, a good value mattress should last in the realm of seven to ten years depending on your size, frequency of use, and a few other factors. This is the average for any bed – so it pays to do research before you buy to get the bed that’s best for you for seven years of good rest and sleep quality.